Hamlet Park Benefits from Starke Hospital Day of Service, Planned Haunted House

Hamlet PlaygroundThe Hamlet Town Park has gotten some upgrades, thanks to employees at Starke Hospital. As part of the hospital’s annual Day of Service Monday, employees volunteered their time to install two park benches near the new playground equipment, as well as new barbecue grills. Volunteers also took part in some beautification efforts, including painting, weed-pulling, and landscaping work.

During Wednesday’s park board meeting, board president Dave Kesvormas publicly thanked the hospital volunteers, on behalf of the town. “It’s a big thing because the park has really taken a big step forward in the last couple years, and it’s well-noticed – everybody working on it, the park board and all the things we’ve got going on,” he said. “We have a haunted house now and Easter egg hunts and things have been painted, security cameras and bike ramps. Lots of things have happened down there. Everybody involved should be proud of the park.”

Hamlet BenchThe park board received an update on the haunted house planned to take place during the last two weekends in October. Community members are organizing the event to raise money for Hamlet’s park department and the Oregon-Davis FFA program.

However, organizers say they’ve had some challenges lining up liability insurance. Town officials agreed to look into the possibility of having the haunted house covered under the town’s insurance, since it will serve as a park fundraiser.

It’s scheduled to take place at the Starke County Fairgrounds during the evening hours that last two Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays of October. More information may be found on the event’s Facebook page.